M15/42 tank

Infobox Weapon
name=M15/42


caption=M15/42 on display at the "Musée des Blindés" in Saumur
origin=flagicon|Italy|1861 Italy
type=Medium tank
is_vehicle=yes
service= 1943 - 1945?
used_by= flagicon|Italy|1861 Italy
flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
wars= World War II
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
unit_cost=
production_date= 1943 - 1944
number= 128
variants=
weight=15.5 tonnes
length=4.92 m
part_length=
width=2.2 m
height=2.4 m
diameter=
crew=4
armour=14 to 45 mm
primary_armament=47 mm L/40 gun
111 rounds
secondary_armament=4 x 8 mm Breda 38 machine guns
engine=petrol
engine_power=192 hp
pw_ratio=
suspension=Two 4 wheel bogies, semi-elliptic leaf spring
vehicle_range=200 km
speed=40 km/h

The M15/42 was an Italian World War II 15 tonne tank first built in January 1943. Some 90 vehicles were built before the Italian armistice in September 1943 and in connection to that event they were used in battle against the Germans by the Ariete armored division in Rome. After that point they were confiscated and used by the Germans who also built another 28 M15/42 tanks. Armament was one 47 mm main gun and four 8 mm Breda 38 machine guns.

It was developed from the M13/40 and the M14/41. It had a more powerful engine and air filters to cope with the harsh conditions of the desert. By the time it entered service, it was already obsolete.

The turret had an improved (compared to the M13) 47 mm / 40 caliber gun with an elevation of +20 degrees and a depression of –10 degrees. The turret could traverse 360 degrees and was electrically operated. An 8 mm Modello 38 machine gun was mounted co-axial with the main armament with a similar machine gun mounted on the roof for anti-aircraft defense.

External links

* [http://www.wwiivehicles.com/italy/tanks-medium/m15-42.asp M15/42 Medium Tanks] at wwiivehicles.com
* [http://www.comandosupremo.com/CarroM1542.html Carro M.15/42] at comandosupremo.com
* [http://www.onwar.com/tanks/italy/fm1542.htm M15/42] at onwar.com